Somali troops retook the presidential palace in the capital of Mogadishu after militants forced their way in and exchanged heavy gunfire with troops and guards Tuesday, the latest attack underscoring the threat posed by Islamic extremist group al-Shabab in east Africa. After more than two hours of fighting, Somalia's presidency said in a Twitter update that "the shameful attack" had been foiled by Somalia's armed forces fighting alongside African Union peacekeepers. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was not inside the palace at the time of the attack, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein, a police official.

Washington

Cleveland to host GOP convention

Seeking to capture the quintessential swing state of Ohio in the next presidential election, Republicans will hold their 2016 national convention in Cleveland, the party announced Tuesday. The city was chosen after a lengthy review by the Republican National Committee, which narrowed the field to two finalists; Dallas was the other. The Democratic National Committee is still considering several cities for its convention.

Salt Lake City

Police give motive in dead baby case

A Utah mother told authorities that she killed six of her newborns and stored their bodies in a garage because she was addicted to drugs and didn't want to deal with the responsibility of raising them, police said Tuesday, revealing a suspected motive for the first time. Megan Huntsman, 39, was heavily into a meth addiction when she strangled or suffocated the infants from 1996 to 2006, Pleasant Grove police Capt. Mike Roberts told the Associated Press. DNA results that were revealed Tuesday confirmed that her estranged husband, Darren West, was biological father of the infants.

Washington

New charges seen in Benghazi case

Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that they expect to file new charges against a suspected ringleader of the 2012 deadly attacks in Ben­ghazi, Libya. Ahmed Abu Khattala, who has pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge, appeared in federal court Tuesday in Washington for a brief status hearing in the high-profile, politically charged terrorism case.

San Diego

4 aware of student forgotten in cell

Four U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration employees saw or heard a handcuffed 23-year-old San Diego student locked in a cell for five days without food or water, but did nothing because they assumed someone else was responsible, investigators said Tuesday. The Justice Department's inspector general faulted several DEA employees for their handling of the April 2012 incident that left Daniel Chong in grave physical health, cost the agency a $4.1 million settlement and led to changes in the agency's detention policies. Chong was detained in a drug sweep and told after brief questioning that he would be released.

Elsewhere

Japan: One of the biggest and strongest typhoons to hit during Japan's summer months churned past Okinawa toward the country's main islands today, weakening slightly but dumping torrential rains. Officials said 20 people were injured.